This document provides a communication-protocol neutral method for exchanging electronic business messages. It defines specific enveloping constructs supporting reliable, secure delivery of business information. Furthermore, this document defines a flexible enveloping technique, permitting messages to contain payloads of any format type.

It specifies each of the following:

This document is applicable to all types of organizations (e.g., commercial enterprises, government agencies, not-for-profit organizations) that exchange documents or data electronically using messaging.